South Korean lawmakers have filed a motion to impeach acting president Han Duck-soo, citing his refusal to appoint constitutional court judges nominated by the opposition. The move comes after Han vetoed several opposition-led bills and deepened the country’s political turmoil.
Han had previously apologized for failing to block Yoon Suk Yeol’s martial law attempt, but has since held firm on key issues. His decision not to review two opposition-sponsored bills on special counsel investigations into the martial law declaration and corruption allegations involving the first lady sparked criticism from opposition parties.
The opposition bloc holds 192 seats in parliament, and if they succeed in impeaching Han, finance minister Choi Sang-mok will be next in line. The Seoul Constitutional Court is also deliberating on whether Yoon should be permanently barred from office, with protesters vowing to continue their calls for his removal during the proceedings.
The impeachment motion requires 151 out of 300 MPs to vote in favor, and it is expected to be put to a vote within 24-72 hours. Han’s actions have raised concerns about his fitness as an acting president and whether he will defend the constitution.
If Han is impeached, Yoon would likely be removed from office as well, and new investigations into allegations of insurrection against Yoon could lead to further turmoil in the country’s politics.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c878rjgv7d2o